Luke 19:26
in Luke 19He replied, ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more; but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I say unto you, that unto every one that hath shall be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him.
KJV
For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
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This verse in Luke 19
Commentary
16 notes on this verseFor I say unto you,.... And it may be depended on as truth, and what will be found matter of fact: that unto every one that hath, shall be given; greater and larger gifts, fitting him for greater usefulness: he that has gifts, and makes use of them, increases in them; they enlarge with their use, and become brighter, and he more useful.
This site's exposition
Take the mina from him
on Luke 19:24-27
The master gives the mina to the one who has ten minas, by the rule that everyone who has will be given more. Verse 27 returns to the subjects of verse 14.
This site's exposition
everyone who has will be given more
The master's answer is a rule of the kingdom. Theophylact reads it as more given to the one who increased a small sum tenfold. In his reading the idle servant loses even the mina he held, so that the Lord's account has no gap.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Nothing is said of the other servants, who like wasteful debtors lost all that they had received. By those two servants who gained by trading, are signified that small number, who in two companies were sent as dressers of the vineyard; by the remainder all the Jews. It follows, And they said unto him, Lord, he has ten pounds. And lest this should seem unjust, it is added, For to every one that hath, it shall be given.
And committing many other abominations and impieties, they run us down (who from the fear of God guard against sinning even in thought or word) as utterly contemptible and ignorant persons, while they highly exalt themselves, and claim to be perfect, and the elect seed. For they declare that we simply receive grace for use, wherefore also it will again be taken away from us; but that they themselves have grace as their own special possession, which has descended from above by means of an unspeakable and indescribable conjunction; and on this account more will be given them.
(de Quæst. Ev. l. ii. qu. 46.) Signifying thereby that both he will lose the gift of God, who having, hath not, that is, useth it not, and that he will have it increased, who having, hath, that is, rightly useth it.
But it is not doubting in reference to God, but believing, that is the foundation of knowledge. But Christ is both the foundation and the superstructure, by whom are both the beginning and the ends. And the extreme points, the beginning and the end-I mean faith and love-are not taught. But knowledge, conveyed from communication through the grace of God as a deposit, is entrusted to those who show themselves worthy of it; and from it the worth of love beams forth from light to light. For it is said, "To him that hath shall be given:" to faith, knowledge; and to knowledge, love; and to love, the inheritance.
The Medieval Church1 voice
But from the slothful and idle, who stirs not himself to increase what he has received, shall be taken away even that which he possesses, that there may be no gap in the Lord's account when it is given to others and multiplied. But this is not to be applied only to the words of God and teaching, but also to the moral virtues; for in respect of these also, God sends us His gracious gifts, endowing one man with fasting, another with prayer, another with mildness or humility; but all these so long as we watch strictly over ourselves we shall multiply, but if we grow cold we shall extinguish.
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church3 voices
Therefore he pronounces judgment generally for all, adding: But I say to you, that to everyone who has, it shall be given, and he shall abound: The Gloss: "To one who uses what he has." But from him who does not have, namely right use, …
But I say to you that to everyone who has, it will be given. But from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. This saying refers to the previous teachings, showing that even he who has the gift of …
"To him who has, it will be given," that is, whoever through good dealings has accumulated rich means, to him even more will be given. For if he increased a small amount tenfold, then obviously, having multiplied a greater amount tenfold, he will bring the …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Another thing they expected was, that, when the kingdom of God should appear, the body of the Jewish nation would immediately fall in with it, and submit to it, and all their aversions to Christ and his gospel would immediately vanish; but Christ tells them that, after his departure, the generality of them would persist in their obstinacy and rebellion, and it would be their ruin.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
And from him that hath not - See this particularly explained Mat 13:12 (note). Perhaps it would be well, with Bishop Pearce, to supply the word gained - give it to him who hath gained ten minas; for I say unto you, That unto every one who hath gained shall be given; and, from him who hath not gained, even that which he hath received, shall be taken away.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The occasion of our Lord speaking the parable before us, is clear and plain. It was intended to correct the false expectations of the disciples on the subject of Christ's kingdom. It was a prophetic sketch of things present and things to come — which ought to raise solemn thoughts in the minds of all professing Christians. We see, for one thing, in this parable — the present position of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is compared to "a certain nobleman, who went into a far country, to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return."
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The occasion of our Lord speaking the parable before us, is clear and plain. It was intended to correct the false expectations of the disciples on the subject of Christ's kingdom. It was a prophetic sketch of things present and things to come — which ought to raise solemn thoughts in the minds of all professing Christians. We see, for one thing, in this parable — the present position of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is compared to "a certain nobleman, who went into a far country, to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return." When the Lord Jesus left the world, He ascended up into Heaven as a conqueror, leading captivity captive. He is there sitting at the right hand of God, doing the work of a High Priest for His believing people, and ever making intercession for them. But He will not sit there always. He will come forth from the holy of holies to bless His people. He will come again with power and glory — to put down every enemy under His feet, and to set up His universal kingdom on earth. At present "we do not see all things subjected to Him." The devil is the "prince of this world." (Hebrews 2:8; John 14:30.) But the present state of things shall be changed one day. When Christ returns — the kingdoms of the world shall become His! Let these things sink down into our minds. In all our thoughts about Christ — let us never forget His second coming. It is well to know that He lived for us, and died for us, and rose again for us, and intercedes for us. But it is also well to know that He is soon coming again for us! We see, for another thing, in this parable — the present position of all professing Christians. Our Lord compares them to servants who have been left in charge of money by an absent master, with strict directions to use that money well. They are to "Put this money to work, until I come back."
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For I say ... - These are the words of the “nobleman” declaring the principles on which he would distribute the rewards of his kingdom. But those mine enemies - By the punishment of those who would not that he should reign over them is denoted the ruin that was to come upon the Jewish nation for rejecting the Messiah, and also upon all sinners for not receiving him as their king. See the notes at the parable of the talents in Matt. 25.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| λέγω | lego | I say | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| ὑμῖν | humin | to you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| παντὶ | panti | to everyone | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| τῷ | to | who | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἔχοντι | echonti | is having | G2192 → | 707 times |
| δοθήσεται, | dothesetai | will be given, | G1325 → | 412 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἔχοντος | echontos | having | G2192 → | 707 times |
| καὶ | kai | even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὃ | ho | that which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἔχει | echei | he has | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἀρθήσεται | arthesetai | will be taken away | G142 → | 100 times |
λέγωI say
legoG3004 →1325 times
ὑμῖνto you
huminG4771 →2973 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
παντὶto everyone
pantiG3956 →1235 times
τῷwho
toG3588 →19766 times
ἔχοντιis having
echontiG2192 →707 times
δοθήσεται,will be given,
dothesetaiG1325 →412 times
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
τοῦthe [one]
touG3588 →19766 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ἔχοντοςhaving
echontosG2192 →707 times
καὶeven
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὃthat which
hoG3739 →1405 times
ἔχειhe has
echeiG2192 →707 times
ἀρθήσεταιwill be taken away
arthesetaiG142 →100 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 13:12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
it leads to
- Matthew 25:29
For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Mark 4:24–25
He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you.
- Luke 8:18
Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
- Matthew 25:29
Through
2 John 1:8Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.
it leads to
- Hebrews 10:35
So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.
- Revelation 3:11
I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
- 1 Corinthians 3:14
If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward.
- Hebrews 10:35
Through
Matthew 21:43Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
it leads to
- Matthew 21:41
“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.”
- Matthew 21:41
Through
Luke 8:18Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
it leads to
- Matthew 13:12
Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
- Matthew 13:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies16
On this verse
On this chapter
About Luke
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 19; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 7; Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book I; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Luke and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.